In the border regions of Afghanistan and Pakistan, drones are well known for their military uses, whether for surveillance or air strikes. They have even won literary acclaim, with the recent publication of a thriller by an author writing under the pseudonym Doa, whose title, “Pukhtu primo” is a clear allusion to this part of the world.

The days of Ambassadors and Consuls-General being accountable to nobody are well and truly over. Today, in what is known as 360° assessment, all diplomats must undergo evaluations, including Heads of consular posts. Detailed inspections are also regularly conducted by the French Foreign Ministry’s Inspectorate General.

As you will have understood by now, the French Foreign Ministry’s blog is designed to shed a little light on diplomacy. This is due to a simple observation on our part: the French know what teachers, doctors and firefighters do, but not really what the business of diplomats is.

"How about a trip to Korea next week? A delegation of veterans from the French Battalion of the UN is travelling there on a commemorative trip." As a desk officer responsible for the Korean peninsula, like many of my colleagues I had been busy for several months with the French Presidency of the European Union, monitoring European-Chinese relations.